Essex Man Charged With Possession of Child Pornography

A licensed social worker from Essex who told police he counsels teens has been charged with having and distributing child pornography, according to Baltimore County Police.

Baltimore County police said they have charged 46-year-old James Patrick Tinker II this week with possession and distribution of child pornography.

Investigators began looking into Tinker in July, when officials with the Crimes Against Children Unit discovered that someone from a home in the 2300 block of Turkey Point Road in Essex had been sharing child pornography on more than one occasion.

Detectives served a search warrant at the home, which belonged to Tinker. They said they found several computer devices that contained images of child porn, which Tinker knowingly and willfully distributed to others.

Officials said Tinker is a licensed social worker at Turning Point in Baltimore, as well as a teen counselor at Anne Arundel Counseling in Glen Burnie.

So far, investigators said there's no evidence that Tinker had any sexual contact with children.

Tinker is being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on $200,000 bail.

Baltimore County Police Release:

Essex Man Charged With Possession of Child Pornography

On July 9, a detective with the Baltimore County Police Department Crimes Against Children Unit was conducting a check of the Internet for persons sharing child pornography. During this investigation, the detective identified a source that was sharing pornographic images of children. The source was identified again on July 25 as a source that was sharing pornographic images of children.

Further investigation indicated that this source was located in a home in the 2300 block of Turkey Point Road 21221. Detectives served a search and seizure warrant on that home and recovered several computer devices that contained images of child pornography.

The investigation has indicated that 46-year-old James Patrick Tinker II of the home in the 2300 block of Turkey Point Road 21221 was responsible for the images on the computer devices and that he knowingly and willfully possessed and distributed child pornography. James Patrick Tinker II was found to be a licensed social worker at Turning Point in Baltimore and Anne Arundel Counseling in Glen Burnie.

At this time, there is no evidence that James Patrick Tinker II has had any sexual contact with children.

The investigation has also indicated James Patrick Tinker II told investigators that he is a licensed social worker and he counsels teens.

James Patrick Tinker II has been charged with possession and distribution of child pornography. He is being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on $200,000 bail